Where Should I Go to See China's Natural Beauty?

China's Natural Beauty: Rivers

I travel to China twice a year for work, but never escape the sprawling cities. I’d like to extend my stay next time, and go hiking, or snorkeling, or mountain climbing—something outdoorsy. Where should I go?

Guizhou is the country’s watery summer resort, marbled with lakes and rivers among its hilly and mountainous terrain. The surprisingly sprawling city of Anshun, with a population of two million in the metro area, is the jumping-off point for outdoor exploration, given its proximity to the cascade-filled Huanggoushou Waterfall National Park and the maze of glittering water passages in the Long Gong Dragon Caves.

WHERE TO STAY: At the Grand Waterfall Hotel, business-class and affordable rooms begin at $65 a night.